Regulations are to be implemented from next year that will require all lorries transporting sand to be GPS-(Global Positioning System) enabled, Mahaweli Development & Environment Ministry Secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne said today.
He said lorries should be registered with the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and a valid licence obtained to transport sand and for sand mining.
“From January 1, 2017, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau is to introduce and install a new GPS tracking system for each and every registered lorry. Sand transportation will be restricted only to those lorries that have GPS tracking systems. Those lorries will be monitored by a special team deployed by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. The team can monitor the times and locations of sand loading and unloading, and they will be able to note the route taken to the destinations,” Mr. Seneviratne said.